The Guy With The Tripod? What Really Happens During a Boundary Survey?
Ever wondered what is actually happening when you see a surveyor standing outside a property, beside a road or near a local landmark, looking through equipment mounted on a tripod?
When it comes to a boundary survey, the surveyor is doing far more than taking a few measurements. They are gathering and assessing the evidence needed to accurately determine where a property begins and ends.
Much of this work happens before the surveyor arrives and continues long after they leave.
A professional boundary survey involves researching property records, searching for original survey marks, measuring the site, assessing fences and other occupation evidence, completing detailed calculations and having the final plan reviewed by a registered surveyor.
Here is the complete boundary survey process, from your first enquiry through to the delivery of your completed survey plan.
1. Initial Brief and Fixed-Price Quote
You tell us about your property and why you need the boundary identified.
A boundary survey may be required when you are:
Building or extending a home
Installing or replacing a fence
Planning a retaining wall, driveway, pool or landscaping project
Subdividing or developing land
Buying or selling a property
Investigating a possible boundary encroachment
Confirming the location of existing structures in relation to the boundary
Our team will review your requirements, confirm the appropriate boundary surveying service and provide a clear, fixed-price quote.
If you are unsure whether you need a boundary survey, identification survey or another type of land survey, our approachable team can help point you in the right direction.
2. Title and Boundary Research
Before visiting the property, we obtain and review the relevant title information, deposited plan, previous survey records and applicable dealings.
This research helps the surveyor understand how the property was originally defined, identify relevant survey references and determine which boundary marks or other evidence may still exist.
For older properties or land with limit
3.Booking and Property Access
We arrange a suitable date and time for the boundary survey and confirm any access requirements.
The surveyor will usually need clear access around the property, including side passages, fences, walls and boundary corners.
In some circumstances, access to adjoining land may also be required to locate survey marks or gather evidence needed to accurately re-establish the property boundary. We will discuss this with you beforehand wherever possible.
Stay Informed with ARP Assist
Every boundary surveying service booked with ARP Surveyors includes access to ARP Assist, our centralised customer service and job-management platform.
ARP Assist brings your quoting, booking and real-time job tracking together in one convenient place, helping to make your experience seamless from initial enquiry through to the delivery of your completed boundary survey.
Learn more about ARP Assist and how it helps you manage your surveying project.
4. On-Site Boundary Measurements
During the site visit, the surveyor establishes survey control and accurately measures the property using professional GNSS and total station equipment.
Depending on the property and purpose of the survey, this may include measuring:
Existing buildings and structures
Fences, walls and retaining walls
Boundary corners
Driveways and accessways
Relevant adjoining structures
Visible easements and services
Existing survey marks and reference points
Other features affecting the boundary assessment
These measurements allow the surveyor to compare what physically exists on the land with the property’s title and registered survey information.
5. Searching for Boundary Evidence
A critical part of a boundary survey is searching for evidence that helps establish the property’s legal boundaries.
The surveyor may search for:
Original survey marks
Boundary pegs
Reference marks
Drill holes, nails or other permanent marks
Old fences and fence posts
Walls, buildings and other occupation evidence
Survey marks located on adjoining properties or nearby land
The surveyor records which marks and physical features remain, which have been disturbed and which can no longer be found.
A fence line is not automatically the legal property boundary. Its position must be assessed against the title, registered plans, survey records and all available physical evidence.
6. Boundary Calculations and Re-Establishment
Back in the office, the field measurements are compared with the property title, deposited plan, previous survey records and available boundary evidence.
The registered surveyor assesses the reliability of each piece of evidence and determines the best available position of the property boundaries.
This is specialist judgement work—not simply arithmetic. Accurately re-establishing a boundary requires professional knowledge, experience and an understanding of NSW surveying requirements.
7. Preparing the Boundary Survey Plan
Once the boundary position has been determined, our drafting team prepares the survey plan to the standard required for its intended purpose.
Depending on the agreed scope, the plan may show:
Property boundaries and dimensions
Existing buildings and structures
Fences, walls and occupation lines
Encroachments or discrepancies identified during the survey
Easements or restrictions relevant to the property
Survey marks found or placed
Other information required for design, construction, approval or legal purposes
8. Registered Surveyor Review
A senior registered surveyor reviews the research, field measurements, boundary calculations and completed plan.
This quality-control process ensures the boundary has been assessed using the best available evidence and that the final survey documentation is accurate, complete and appropriate for its intended purpose.
Where required, the registered surveyor signs and certifies the final documentation.
9. Boundary Survey Delivery
You will receive your completed boundary survey plan and any accompanying documentation or report included within the agreed scope.
If you have questions, you can speak directly with our team. We are happy to explain the survey findings, help you understand the information shown on the plan and clarify any boundary issues identified.
10. What Do You Need to Do Before a Boundary Survey?
Very little preparation is required. Before the surveyor arrives, please:
Confirm the booking
Ensure gates and side access are unlocked
Clear access to fences and boundary corners where possible
Secure dogs and other pets
Let us know about locked areas, construction activity or safety concerns
Tell us if you are aware of any existing boundary concerns or neighbour disputes
You generally do not need to be home during the survey, provided we can safely access all required areas. However, you are welcome to meet the surveyor if you would like to discuss the property or point out a specific concern.
Need a Boundary Survey in Sydney or NSW?
ARP Surveyors specialises in professional boundary surveying for residential, commercial and development projects across Greater Sydney and New South Wales.
With more than 50 years of combined team experience, our surveyors are registered with the NSW Board of Surveying and Spatial Information (BOSSI).
Our team combines detailed property research, precise field measurements and experienced professional judgement to deliver accurate, reliable and clearly documented boundary survey information.
Whether you are planning a building project, replacing a fence, investigating a possible encroachment or simply want certainty about your property boundaries, we can help!
This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal, planning or building advice.